How to Wearing the Right Gear
How to Wearing the Right Gear
Purchase a helmet. Head injuries are the main cause of serious or fatal accidents for cyclists, and helmets can greatly reduce the risk of harm. Find a full-coverage helmet that has a visor that doesn’t limit your vision so you can stay aware of your surroundings. Make sure the chinstrap fits tightly around your head so the helmet stays secure.
Look for a Department of Transportation (DOT) or European Commission (ECE) sticker or label to see if the helmet meets the legal requirements for safe riding.
Do not wear helmets with tinted visors when visibility is low or while riding at night.
Helmets usually have ventilation systems so your head will stay cool in hot weather.
Not all locations require you to wear a helmet when you ride. Check with your local laws to find out.
Get a snug jacket made of a sturdy material. Jackets made out of leather or a strong synthetic material will work the best for the most protection. Find jackets with lightweight body armor on your shoulders and elbows so you’re less prone to injury if you get into an accident
Find a jacket that has reflectors built into the fabric so you are more visible to other vehicles. If you cannot find a jacket with them sewn in, use reflective tape on the front, back, and on the arms of your jacket.
Wear long pants to protect your legs. In case of a fall, pants will protect the entire lengths of your legs more than shorts. Purchase a thicker material like denim for the best protection while riding your motorcycle.
Wear leather chaps over your pants for an extra layer of protection.
Pick out boots and gloves. Get boots with short heels so they don’t get caught on any rough surfaces. Make sure the gloves cover all of your fingers and the boots come above your ankle. Find a non-slip material that is durable, such as leather, that makes it easier to hold onto your bike in all weather conditions.
Tuck the laces inside your boot so they don’t hang or get caught on anything.
Not only do gloves protect your hands while riding or during an accident, they will also help prevent your skin from drying out.
Learning the Controls on Your Bike
Locate the throttle on the right side grip of your motorcycle. Find the throttle on the right-hand grip of your bike. The throttle controls the speed of the motorcycle. To accelerate and engage the engine, twist the throttle toward you.
Make sure the throttle snaps back into place if you turn it and let go. If not, have a mechanic take a look at it before you ride.
Find the brakes above the right grip and near your right foot peg. Locate the brake for the front wheel by the handle right above the throttle. You’ll be using the front brake most frequently. While sitting on the bike, find the rear wheel brake with your right foot. Depress the lever to engage the brake.
Most of your stopping power will come from braking your front tire.
If you don’t see a lever near your right foot for a rear wheel brake, consult the owner’s manual for your motorcycle to learn where specific controls are found.
Familiarize yourself with the clutch and shifter. Most motorcycles are manual transmissions and need to be shifted up or down as you accelerate and decelerate. Look for the clutch above the left handlebar. It will look similar to the handle that controls your brakes. Find the shifter in front of your left foot and control it with the up and down lever.
Keep your bike in neutral with your kickstand down when you aren’t using it. Neutral is usually found in between the first and second gear.
Many motorcycles work with a “1 down, 5 up” shift pattern. From lowest to highest, the gears usually go first, neutral, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth.
